Nzimande said approximately 3 000 000 young people between 18 and 24 were not accommodated in either the education and training system or labour market. This, he said, prevented many of them from participating in shaping a democratic South Africa as informed citizens.

The minister said that by 2030 this should change, with South Africa having a post-school system that provides a range of accessible alternatives for young people.

The post- school institutions will include a new institutional type - Community Education and Training Centres - to address the needs of out-of-school youth and adults.

“We propose to absorb and transform the existing public adult learning centres into this category of institution and believe that they will serve to strengthen significantly the provision of education and training to adults,” said Nzimande.

He added that the key area of focus for expansion will be the public Further Education and Training (FET) college sector which will play the central role in expanding the development of artisanal and other mid-level skills for the economy.

“Such skills are in extremely short supply and colleges, working together with employers (both public and private), will be our spearhead in tackling this problem,” he said.